Discussion, Societal Exclusion, and Political Voice

2020 ◽  
pp. 207-223
Author(s):  
Andy Baker ◽  
Barry Ames ◽  
Lúcio Rennó
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Political Discussion ◽  
National Elections ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
Informed Preferences ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Political Voice ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Normative Issues ◽  
Latin American Countries

This chapter explores the implications of horizontal intermediation for the normative issues of the quality and equity of political voice. Because its monetary costs are virtually nil, the realm of horizontal intermediation could be a haven for under-resourced and marginalized groups. The analyses of data from the panel studies and the Comparative National Elections Project (CNEP), however, show that political discussion in seven Latin American countries suffers from an exclusion problem. Individuals of high socioeconomic status (SES) are much more likely to discuss politics than individuals of lower status, and men discuss politics more than women. This has concrete consequences, as high-SES individuals and men have more political knowledge than low-SES individuals and women, respectively. The chapter then considers whether these inequalities distort the political voice of marginalized groups. In Brazil and Mexico, the degree of engagement in horizontal intermediation is positively correlated with voters' abilities to choose the candidates who best represent their issue attitudes. Because of this correlation, the poor are sometimes less likely than the rich to choose candidates who support their expressed values and beliefs about politics and policies. Moreover, the emergence of socially informed preferences during a campaign does not move voters toward their correct candidates.

Latin American Political Discussion in Comparative Perspective

2020 ◽  
pp. 31-62
Author(s):  
Andy Baker ◽  
Barry Ames ◽  
Lúcio Rennó
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Discussion ◽  
Latin American Politics ◽  
Descriptive Information ◽  
Political Expertise ◽  
Informed Preferences ◽  
Relative Prevalence ◽  
Discussion Partners ◽  
Latin American Countries

This chapter fills a major gap in the literature on Latin American politics by providing descriptive information about the region's political discussion networks. It reports the absolute and relative prevalence of political discussion — compared to other countries and to other intermediaries — in Brazil, Mexico, and eight other Latin American countries. Latin American citizens discuss politics at a frequency that is typical or even above that prevailing in other countries, and their propensity to speak with residential neighbors is well above the global average. The chapter then portrays the amount of political disagreement and the disparity in political expertise between discussion partners. Rates of disagreement over vote choices in Latin America are high relative to those in the United States, and this is largely because the region's multiparty systems afford more opportunities for disagreement. Moreover, Latin Americans seek out discussion partners with relatively high political expertise, an important part of the socially informed preferences argument.

scholarly journals When growth is not enough: inequality, economic gains, and executive approval

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Ryan E. Carlin ◽  
Timothy Hellwig ◽  
Gregory J. Love ◽  
Cecilia Martínez-Gallardo ◽  
Matthew M. Singer
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Economic Inequality ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Economic Voting ◽  
Presidential Approval ◽  
Personal Finances ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Valence Issue

Abstract A robust economy is assumed to bolster leaders' standing. This ignores how benefits of growth are distributed. Extending the partisan models of economic voting, we theorize executives are more likely rewarded when gains from growth go to their constituents. Analyses of presidential approval in 18 Latin American countries support our pro-constituency model of accountability. When economic inequality is high, growth concentrates among the rich, and approval of right-of-center presidents is higher. Leftist presidents benefit from growth when gains are more equally distributed. Further analyses show growth and inequality inform perceptions of personal finances differently based on wealth, providing a micro-mechanism behind the aggregate findings. Study results imply that the economy is not purely a valence issue, but also a position issue.

Taiwan will rely increasingly on US diplomatic support

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
State Department ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
The State ◽  
Diplomatic Relations ◽  
Military Aircraft ◽  
National Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Latin American Countries

Subject The latest US support for Taiwan. Significance The US State Department on September 24 approved the sale of 330 million dollars' worth of military aircraft parts to Taiwan -- the latest of several moves in Washington this month that increase support for Taiwan. On September 3, a bill was introduced to Congress that allows the State Department to penalise other countries for severing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. On September 7, senior US diplomats were recalled from Latin American countries that had done so. Impacts The US defence department will work more closely with Taiwan’s military to upgrade its capabilities. Despite US disapproval, more of Taiwan’s diplomatic partners will probably switch to China, given the economic incentives. Loss of diplomatic allies could become a major issue in Taiwan's 2020 national elections, to the ruling party's detriment.

scholarly journals Animals in the Zika virus life cycle: what to expect from megadiverse Latin American countries

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Galvão Bueno ◽  
Nádia Martinez ◽  
Lívia Abdala ◽  
Claudia Nunes Duarte dos Santos ◽  
Marcia Chame
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Sylvatic Cycle ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Virus Life Cycle ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Latin American Countries

ABSTRACTZika virus (ZIKV) was first isolated in 1947 in primates in Uganda, West Africa. The virus remained confined to the equatorial regions of Africa and Asia, cycling between infecting monkeys, arboreal mosquitoes, and occasional humans. The ZIKV Asiatic strain was probably introduced into Brazil in 2013. In the current critical human epidemic in the Americas, ZIKV is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, especially where the human population density is combined with poor sanitation. Presently, ZIKV is in contact with the rich biodiversity in all Brazilian biomes, bordering on other Latin American countries. Infections in Brazilian primates have been reported recently, but the overall impact of this virus on wildlife in the Americas is still unknown. The current epidemic in the Americas requires knowledge on the role of mammals, especially non-human primates, in ZIKV transmission to humans. The article discusses the available data on ZIKV in host animals, besides issues of biodiversity, rapid environmental change, and impact on human health in megadiverse Latin American countries. The authors reviewed scientific articles and recent news stories on ZIKV in animals, showing that 47 animal species from three orders (mammals, reptiles, and birds) have been investigated for the potential to establish a sylvatic cycle. The review aims to contribute to epidemiological studies and the knowledge on the natural history of ZIKV. The article concludes with questions that require urgent attention in epidemiological studies involving wildlife in order to understand their role as ZIKV hosts and to effectively control the epidemic.

Digital Resources: Latin America in Gallica

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Dessens
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Reading Proficiency ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Latin American History ◽  
The Rich ◽  
The Many ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Personal Collection

Gallica, the digital library of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, was launched in 1997. The library contains almost five million documents (manuscripts, books, journals, newspapers, maps, iconographic documents, and recordings), many of which are connected to Latin America, offering rich perspectives on the relationships between France and Latin American countries across the centuries. The many travel narratives, testimonies, essays, photographs, and maps available provide rich insight into French perception of Latin America from the early 16th century to the mid-20th century. Although Gallica’s collection of manuscripts on Latin America is not plentiful, one of its main goals is to provide easy access to rare French books printed centuries ago, of which not many copies are available today and which are rarely present in other digital libraries. The richest collection is probably on Brazil, since Gallica has organized a special collection titled “France-Brésil” which provides access to the rich personal collection of books and manuscripts of the first French historian of Brazil, Ferdinand Denis (1798–1890), among other treasures. Gallica has undeniable value for researchers specialized in Latin American history, although working on its collections requires at least reading proficiency in French as the vast majority of the accessible resources are in French.

Bolivia and British Tin Policy, 1939–1945

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 289-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Hillman
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Government Intervention ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Second World War ◽  
Market Forces ◽  
World War ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Second World ◽  
Latin American Countries

During the Second World War, Bolivia became the single most important source of tin for the Allies. As with other Latin American countries who were placed in the position of supplying essential raw materials,1 Bolivia confronted a situation where the operation of normal market forces was suspended. Access to Axis markets was denied, and prices were set through government intervention, often at widely divergent levels in different markets. As a result, the impression was created that the poor producers were prevented from enjoying a wartime bonanza by exploitative collusion on the part of the rich consumers.

Semiotic food, semiotic cooking: The ritual of preparation and consumption of hallacas in Venezuela

Semiotica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (211) ◽  
pp. 271-291
Author(s):  
José Enrique Finol ◽  
Beatriz Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Food Consumption ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Field Method ◽  
General Analysis ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Cultural Traditions ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Symbolic Approach ◽  
Culinary Culture ◽  
Latin American Countries

AbstractThe purposes of this paper are, first of all, to present a model of semiotic ritual in food consumption, and, second, to carry out a general analysis of the rites of preparation and consumption of the traditional Venezuelan Christmas dish known as hallaca, a particular kind of tamal well known in most Caribbean and Latin American countries. Our ethnographic research is based on the observation and participation field method, during which we have taken photographs, held interviews, and had discussions with actors involved in this family ritual. We have also taken advantage of our own thirty years of experience as direct participant actors. In its first part, this paper presents some theoretical and conceptual definitions that guide us through the analysis. Hallaca is not only a strong symbol in historical and contemporary Venezuelan culinary culture but it is also a living expression of a particular syncretic mixing of semiotic and culinary elements and cultural traditions. We conclude that, as a whole, semiotics of food will benefit from a ritual and symbolic approach to what is done before, during, and after cooking and consuming food. Our analysis shows as well that hallaca preparation and consumption is not only a matter of gathering and having fun but a strong, deep rooted way of expressing, communicating, and renewing profound values and beliefs among family members.

Talk Without Borders: Why Political Discussion Makes Latin Americans With Relatives Abroad More Critical of Their Democracies

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Crow ◽  
Clarisa Pérez-Armendáriz
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Political Discussion ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Transnational Governance ◽  
Latin Americans ◽  
Political Beliefs ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
New Information ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Latin American Countries

Mulling over politics with others can change citizens’ political beliefs and choices. Is the effect of interpersonal political discussion different when one of the interlocutors has a family member living abroad—that is, is a “transnational household member” (THM)? Using data from 20 Latin American countries in the 2006-2008 AmericasBarometer, we show that talking about politics makes THMs less satisfied with their democracies and less proud of their political systems than non-THMs. When THMs engage in cross-border political discussions with relatives abroad, they gain new information and perspectives that cast their own democracy in a different light. Even absent cross-border communication, though, political discussion with peers at home can make THMs more critical by emphasizing their government’s transnational governance obligations—and highlighting failures to live up to these heightened expectations. Our study thus adds to a growing body of research on emigration’s impact on sending country politics.

Test Use in Spain, Portugal and Latin American Countries

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Muñiz ◽  
Gerardo Prieto ◽  
Leandro Almeida ◽  
Dave Bartram
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Test Construction ◽  
European Federation ◽  
Psychometric Characteristics ◽  
Testing Practices ◽  
Professional Psychologists ◽  
Test Use ◽  
Latin American Countries

Summary: The two main sources of errors in educational and psychological evaluation are the lack of adequate technical and psychometric characteristics of the tests, and especially the failure to properly implement the testing process. The main goal of the present research is to study the situation of test construction and test use in the Spanish-speaking (Spain and Latin American countries) and Portuguese-speaking (Portugal and Brazil) countries. The data were collected using a questionnaire constructed by the European Federation of Professional Psychologists Association (EFPPA) Task Force on Tests and Testing, under the direction of D. Bartram . In addition to the questionnaire, other ad hoc data were also gathered. Four main areas of psychological testing were investigated: Educational, Clinical, Forensic and Work. Key persons were identified in each country in order to provide reliable information. The main results are presented, and some measures that could be taken in order to improve the current testing practices in the countries surveyed are discussed. As most of the tests used in these countries were originally developed in other cultures, a problem that appears to be especially relevant is the translation and adaptation of tests.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document